The 20 Mile Lesson

I ran 20 miles today. I've run 20 miles before and today's was just as challenging as all the others. People ask me what I think about when I'm running 3 - 4 hours continuously. The answer is a lot of different things but the one consistent thought is how I can apply the lessons of running to my own mental and spiritual growth and the growth and development of others. So here's what I learned (again) today:

• My mind will always quit before my body
• I am exactly where my feet are and no where else
• My mind will always quit before my body (worth repeating)
• Planning is important, implementing those plans is more important
• It usually hurts somewhere in my body when I push myself to become stronger
  
• Improvement comes slowly and gradually
• I need to treat myself as my own best customer
• Contentment is in the small details
• My body can get my mind (ego) up that steep hill
• I can't finish unless I start
• When I move a muscle, I change a thought
  
• I'm very blessed to be able to run and see where I'm running
• I love running up hills more than running down hills
• I can eat whatever I want when I run 70 miles per week
• Keep saying, "I know I can, I know I can
  
• Running is applicable to mental work (writing, work projects, data entry, finances) not just physical exercise
• I have nothing to complain about when I think of the miles Tim Borland has run: 63 marathons in 63 consecutive days
  

There you have it. I'm sure there are a lot more lessons to learn and when I learn them I'll let you know. Until then, I'll keep running until the January 11th Disney Marathon in Orlando, Florida where myself and others are running to raise awareness and funds for the A-T Children's Foundation. I bet if I asked these kids who are afflicted with this killer disease, if they would trade their A-T bodies with the pain inflicted by running a marathon they would gladly make the exchange in a heart beat.